Downtown Pensacola • 33 South 9th Avenue Pensacola, FL • 850.432.3060 NEW Oriole Beach Road & Woods Way • Gulf Breeze, FL • 850.932.9228 205 March 29, 2012 YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER 75¢ VALUABLE Lighting COUPONS badly INSIDE! lacking Traffic ‘tsunami’ along 98 expected Darkness and poor BY JOE CULPEPPER visibility are the Gulf Breeze News major safety deter- [email protected] Saturday rents along a stretch of Gulf Breeze Parkway where two pedestrians were killed by moving vehicles in separate night- Baseball, lacrosse time incidents March 12 and March 20. The Santa Rosa County Commission wants the tournaments, other Florida Department of Transportation to deter- events to lure crowds mine whether the installation of street lighting is warranted on U.S. Highway 98 between College Gulf BY JOE CULPEPPER Parkway and Garcon Point Road. It also wants Breeze is crosswalks in the area re-evaluated, all in hopes Gulf Breeze News accustomed of preventing incidents similar to those that took [email protected] to dealing the lives of Christine Nelson, 47, and Deborah with the onslaught of vehicular traffic that Rector, 54, in recent weeks. besets U.S. Highway 98 during the first •See LIGHTING , Page 3A “beach” weekends of the spring. But when the city itself becomes a tourist destination – as it will this week- Fatal hit-and-run end with four significant events scheduled simultaneously Saturday for Shoreline nets man 15 years Parks North and South – the potential for a traffic tsunami becomes very real for Peter Felix Armstrong, the owner authorities and residents. of a Midway recording studio, was “The stars have aligned,” Gulf Breeze sentenced last week by Judge David Police Chief Robert Randle said earlier Rimmer to the maximum of 15 this week. “We’ll do the best we can, but years state prison for DUI it’s going to be a nightmare for the traffic Manslaughter and Leaving the flow” around Shoreline Park. Scene of a Crash Involving Property A youth baseball tournament spon- Armstrong Damage. On Nov. 26, 2010 at approxi- sored by the Gulf Breeze Sports mately 10:30 p.m., Armstrong, 27, was driving a Association was expected to attract up to 1994 Mazda 929 on U.S. Highway 98 in the 70 teams. That event got under way Wednesday and will conclude Sunday. Midway area after leaving a bar in Fort Walton Joe Culpepper/GBN A youth lacrosse tournament is Beach when he struck and killed Paul Shirley, 58, A memorial of flowers and signs sits near the highway on U.S. 98 in front of Waffle House in •See MOTORIST, Page 2A honor of Debo Rector, who was killed as she attempted to cross the road on March 20. •See TSUNAMI, Page 3A Pensacola steaming over natural gas dispute BY VICI PAPAJOHN service to the citizens of the Gulf Breeze News Gulf Breeze start ed service t o beach in mid-March beach. The county is committed [email protected] to this approach until and unless Pensacola disputing that the City Escambia County Pensacola has not provided gas to the City of Gulf Breeze until a court rules these citizens It seems to be three against of Gulf Breeze should not be the Commissioners produced a to the beach in the over-50 years such time the City of Pensacola should not receive gas service.” one as the dispute over natural one providing the services. statement that clarified their it has had the franchise… can provide the service. This The meeting stalled when gas service to Pensacola Beach A meeting last Wednesday in point of view. “Toward the end of providing allows the beach residents to Gulf Breeze City Attorney Matt heats up with Escambia County Pensacola City Hall intended to “The City of Pensacola holds gas service to Pensacola Beach, receive service and preserves Dannheisser called into question and the Santa Rosa Island serve as a “conflict resolution a franchise from the county to the Escambia County Board of the City of Pensacola rights proper legal procedure. Authority expressing gratitude meeting” was declared preemp- provide gas service to all unin- County Commissioners when they can provide such “We will refrain from dis- over seeing their residents final- tive and solved few issues. corporated areas of the county. approved a non-exclusive fran- service. We believe this cussing any issues Pensacola ly served – and the City of As the meeting opened, Unfortunately, the City of chise agreement for gas service approach provides a valuable •See DISPUTE, Page 7A WEEKEND Weather-plus School Board alters conduct home! code to address ‘Spice’ issue your The syn- BY PAM BRANNON Public Service Announcements to be FRI 3/30 SAT 3/31 SUN 4/1 MON 4/2 thetic drug Gulf Breeze News played at the schools warning students ISOLATED SOME ISOLATED PARTLY that is [email protected] about the dangers of Spice use. T-STORMS T-STORMS T-STORMS CLOUDY made to The changes to the code say “any sub- hi 77/ lo 70 hi 78/ lo 68 hi 79/ lo 68 hi 79/ lo 65 mimic marijuana effects is now illegal to stance that is represented to contain, rain: 30 % rain: 40 % rain: 30 % rain: 10 % be possessed or used on Santa Rosa mimics, or looks like a narcotic drug, County School grounds or within 1,000 amphetamine, barbiturate, marijuana, INSIDE feet of school properties. stimulant, depressant, intoxicant, or any Calendar . .2A Gas Watch . .6A On The Spot . .6A The Santa Rosa County School Board •See SPICE, Page 2A Classifieds . .7C Health . .5B Opinion . .6A has approved unanimously a change in Call 932-8986 today Call 932-8986 today Crossword Puzzle . .3B Island News . .8B Schools . .6C the Student Code Of Conduct, which Related stories Fire/Police Reports .2A Lifestyles . .1B Sports . .1-5C includes expulsion for any student caught ■ Tougher synthetics law signed by with Spice at school or even under the Governor, 2A “Mailing Statement on Opinion Page” influence of the drug. The district has ■ Seven Santa Rosa County THREE SECTIONS, 24 PAGES | VOL. 11, NO. 12 | MARCH 29, 2012 also approved some student created students expelled for pot, Spice, 2A Enjoy your community paper mailed directly to paper mailed directly community your Enjoy GULF BREEZE NEWS (850) 932-8986 www.gulfbreezenews.com 2 A March 29, 2012 GULF BREEZE NEWS Gulf Breeze News asks, ‘What’s your story?’ Gulf Breeze News is plan- offering a new product or serv- served our community. every business in the 2012 ning its 2012 Progress Report to ice. Perhaps technology is play- Additionally, there will be Progress Report, and ask for detail the changes to our com- ing a larger part in your busi- information about local restau- your advertising support in munity over the past year. ness. Is a new president or man- rants, real estate professionals, doing so. Using our reporters, we will ager influencing operations, or medical care options, retailers, Gulf Breeze News’ 2012 Monday, April 2 detail the changes to govern- has your business simply sur- places of worship, financial Progress Report will be pub- ment, education and sports, vived another year? In this fluc- institutions and service based lished on May 10 and be distrib- Gulf Breeze City Council Meeting 6:30 p.m., Council Chamber, City Hall, 1070 Shoreline Drive, among other topics. tuating economy, that’s an businesses. uted inside Gulf Breeze News Gulf Breeze That’s only part of the infor- accomplishment in itself. Every business in our commu- and available at offices, restau- mation we need. We ask busi- Gulf Breeze News is offering nity contributes to our area’s rants and other places with Tuesday, April 3 nesses to help us tell their sto- advertising packages that progress, adding to the diversity many visitors. Advertising Development Review Board 6:30 p.m., Council ries. include stories on businesses as of the lifestyle and contributing deadline is April 26. Chamber, City Hall, 1070 Shoreline Drive, Gulf Perhaps your business is new well as more affordable adver- to the tax base that funds our To speak with an advertising Breeze or underwent an expansion in tising that recognizes the num- schools and government services. sales associate, call (850) 932- Santa Rosa County Marine Advisory 5 p.m., the past year. Or, you may be ber of years your business has We want to honor each and 8986. Santa Rosa County Administration Building, 6495 Carolina Street, Milton Wednesday, April 4 GBPD nabs Pensacola armed robbery suspects Santa Rosa County Housing Coalition 1:30 p.m., Conference Room, 6051 Old Bagdad Highway, Milton Gulf Breeze Toastmasters noon, Fellowship Hall, First Baptist Church, 555 Fairpoint Drive, Gulf Breeze Thursday, April 5 lf Breeze News recommends Santa Rosa County North End Tourist ces to eat, shop and enjoy spare Development Committee 8:30 a.m., Santa Rosa e while visiting the area. Page 5C County Chamber of Commerce, 5247 Stewart Street, Milton Santa Rosa County Blackwater Soil and Water Conservation Meeting 7:30 a.m., 6285 Dogwood Drive, Milton Joe Culpepper/Gulf Breeze News Gulf Breeze Police and Escambia County deputies surround a car and suspect on Daniel Drive east of Gulf Breeze High School sought by Pensacola Police on Wednesday, March 21 after a “be-on-the-lookout” alert was broadcast over law enforcement radio following an alleged armed robbery at a Pensacola motel. GBPD officer Bob Taveirne spotted the vehicle on Gulf Breeze Parkway and pursued it to Daniel Drive. Two men in the car agreed to return to Pensacola Police headquarters for interrogation, and it ultimately was determined that no crime had been committed. Information provided by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.